>> thanks, mark hahn.
>> PS: 16" over slab, feet glued, stringers screwed-on, composite tiles.
>>>> I've not studied the physics of it, but I can't see where the surrounding
> tiles would have an effect. You obviously don't want to remove the tiles the
> rack is sitting on. And those tiles should be supported by a metal grid. As
> far as I know, the metal grid and the poles under it support all the weight,
> and the tiles themselves only help support what is directly sitting on them.
>> If someone knows something I don't, please feel free to speak up.
Speaking as a physicist, the surrounding tiles DO have an effect. They
prevent the stringers from deforming in the horizontal direction
perpendicular to the line of stringer/tile contact.
But you may also be right. Mark, please ask this question of a flooring
engineer. Broken arms, backs, ribs and worse are not worth it.
Bruce